READING will lose 800 jobs when oil giant Shell closes its Thames Valley Park offices before the end of the year.

The Berkshire workers are part of a global staff pruning by the oil giants, who are trimming 10,300 people from its 94,000 worldwide payroll.

The Reading staffers have been expecting the bad news ever since Shell announced 7,500 job cuts in 70 countries, and then warned of another 2,800.

They will be offered a voluntary severance package or relocation to the Shell Centre in London.

Hundreds of other posts will go in Aberdeen and Manchester, with falling oil prices partly to blame for the 'jobs review.'

The Thames Valley Park offices used to be part of the BT Group.

The wave of global job reductions follows a takeover by the BGG Group.

A company spokesman said staffers at Reading will be offered a 'voluntary redundancy arrangement.'

Royal Dutch Shell shareholders approved the company's $49 billion takeover of BGG Group in January.

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